I'm starting a new feature that may only happen on this Wednesday because it's fresh in my mind and I love the idea of putting questions out for blogging peeps to answer. Hopefully I can get creative and come up with at least a few questions each Wednesday, especially since I like the title "Wednesday Whats???"! Spunkysuzi has some today, Drazil does her own brand of questions on Fridays called BYOC (Bring your own crazy), and I know other bloggers have done this at one time or another. It's a great way to get to know each other a little better, and maybe even to share information and ideas. So here goes - and name only one thing for each question, even if you could list a million. And answer one, any, all or none. But at least say hi! Today's theme is about "bests":
1. What is the best book you've read in the last couple of years?
A Thousand Splendid Suns
2. What personal attribute or characteristic makes you feel the best about yourself?
Being a really good listener. I think I've always had this God-given quality, but it's been fine-tuned and deepened since I've been in AA.
3. What is the best vacation you've ever had?
This is hard to name one, but in adhering to my own rule, I'd have to say when our family went to Nova Scotia for 10 days. We'd only gotten our favorite family member - the dog Lou - a few months prior, and he went with us. In the car. Driving for countless hours a total of 4 days. On 2 ferry boats. And he never settled down for 5 straight minutes. The kids were about 10, 12 and 15 - all able to do pretty much everything for themselves, including paddling sea kayaks we rented one day. The whole vacation was utterly glorious, fun, hilarious, beautiful and cram-packed full of incredible memories.
4. Do you have a special recipe for which you're "famous", or particularly love to prepare? (Doesn't have to be healthy) If so, what is it? (Be prepared for recipe requests!)
Mine is a ridiculously simple, fattening and scruptious broccoli casserole I make every Christmas and Thanksgiving. One of the 4 ingredients is actually embarrassing and something I've never used EVER except for this recipe - Velveeta! And of course a substantial amount of butter. With Ritz crackers crushed and mixed in melted butter on top. Oi-vay!!! My family and friends would stage a revolution if I didn't make it for the holidays.
5. What was/is your best job ever? Mine was working in an Allergy and Asthma Practice in suburban Philadelphia. I was there for over 14 years - loved the co-workers, doctors and patients. Learned a ton. Got to do lots of things that kept my clinical skills honed, like drawing blood, giving zillions of shots and immunizations, allergy and pulmonary testing, etc. It was a great fit. Until it wasn't :)
And special bonus question, should you dare to answer it...Other than the requisite having and raising kids or being a good parent - what do you feel is your most important accomplishment (personal or otherwise) to this date?
Leaving my life for 2 and a half months to go home and care for my mom when she was dying from cancer. I was 23; it was difficult; my relationship with my mom was complicated (to say the least); but I've never regretted one second of the experience. I learned a tremendous amount about myself and about my mom through that process. I still occasionally recall something heretofore forgotten that lends new insight into my upbringing and childhood.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Finally I wanted to say that I did my first early morning (4:30 a.m.) walk with the pup this morning, and it was great. Ultra silence, the sun just beginning to evidence itself with it's most distal rays of light rising over the horizon. We only went about 20 minutes, because with so little distraction, I realized my running shoes are wearing woefully thin. It felt like there was very little between my footsies and the pavement! As soon as I leave work today, I'm getting new ones! That won't exactly hurt my knees, either!
I can't wait to read some responses to these questions. And I already have a theme for next Wednesday! Stay tuned.....?.....
1. Can't answer because I'm a voracious reader and couldn't possibly pick one. I love books. Period.
ReplyDelete2. No good at this either. I have a hard time finding my goodness, which really irritates the heck out of people who love me.
3. Grand Case, St. Martin 2002. This was our long awaited 10 years put off honeymoon. When we got to the resort where we were staying they told us the style of room we had booked wasn't available but they were going to upgrade us. We had booked a room with a kitchenette. We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with a spiral staircase that went up to the bedrooms from the living room. We fell in love with that island on that trip - and with each other all over again!
4. Baked Beans. And I don't give out the recipe so I spend most of the summer toting them to cookouts.
5. Haven't had a best job yet, although my best boss was a woman who had been widowed early in life and never remarried. I was a newly divorced single parent when I worked for her and she was so compassionate and wonderful to me. Had she been able to provide me with health insurance I would have worked for her forever.
6. I know you said nothing about raising kids but honestly, my daughter is my best accomplishment. We were "alone" from the time that she was 2 until she was 12. She went through some hard stuff with me and came out on the other side as a wonderful human being. Attended Duke University on 85% scholarship, has a great job that she loves. She's beautiful, talented and has the sweetest soul. Every time I'm with her, she takes my breath away. And actually, you know what? THIS was my best job ever!
1. Hello Ed, Goodbye Me.
ReplyDelete2. I'm loyal to the core. If you are my friend I will always be a good listener, stand up for you, and tell you the truth.
3. Virgin Gorda, BVI. It was the most beautiful place ever!! Other than being a chub...it was glorious!
4. Meatloaf...it's my mom's made up recipe. It's so delicious....and fattening.
5. Since I've only been a Mom that is my best job...it's also rewarding, exasperating, confusing, exhausting, and fullfilling.
6. My most important accomplishment was losing 160 lbs on my own...even though I gained...ummm..too much back. And going back to college and being a mom at the same time.
I read A Thousand Splendid Suns a year or two ago. Great book!
ReplyDeleteHey, Leslie. There's been an award waiting for you on my blog. :) Deb
ReplyDeleteummmm I keep hoping to read that you have gotten into the swimming pool you nerd!
ReplyDelete1. What is the best book you've read in the last couple of years?
Ishmeal
2. What personal attribute or characteristic makes you feel the best about yourself?
I am tenacious and almost never quit anything
3. What is the best vacation you've ever had? I am still waiting to have the best one ever :) my Mom has hinted that she is taking me to swim in warm waters and Maui in august so maybe that one.
4. Do you have a special recipe for which you're "famous", or particularly love to prepare? (Doesn't have to be healthy) If so, what is it? vegetable and turkey lasagna
5. What was/is your best job ever? I like being a swim instructor
what do you feel is your most important accomplishment ...taking back my health and taking off 134 pounds by sheer grit, determination and consistency.
I have to start at best vacation: Sarasota, Florida; I love it there!
ReplyDeleteSpecial Recipe: I seriously make the best chocolate chip and white chip cookies on the planet from a recipe I developed. Neighbors have been found snooping in my freezer looking for "the cookies".
Best Job: Worked for a shopping mall company and traveled to numerous malls across the country for my job. It was awful....
Personal Attribute: Helping others such as when I work at our local Food Pantry.
Best Book: The Shack
Thanks for asking, Leslie! I always like to learn what other people are doin'.
You may have said/have them and I just don't remember - have you had anyone look at your feet to see if you need to be in inserts - ? Knee troubles are often/usually foot based. Your shoe talk made me think of it.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back to do my homework, teach! :)
ReplyDeleteMISSED YOU!
I like this idea. Good questions. :)
ReplyDelete1. I first read it about seven years ago, but it is still the best. It will probably always be my favorite. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
2. This is hard. Um...well, something *I* personally like (but not everyone around me does) is that I question stuff. I don't just do things or accept orders because that's how it is; I always want to know why. And I think that's good.
3. The only vacation I've had so far was going to Disneyland for three days right before senior year started. It was pretty fun.
4. I haven't been cooking long enough to have one of these.
5. I don't know that I've had a job yet that I've particularly loved. I've had plenty that I enjoyed, but none were something that got me any closer to what I want to do for my career (not that I know what that is yet...), and none gave me that "I can't wait to go to work today" feeling.